“There are so many Stormtrooper variations that I can’t tell which one is the current standard.” “Why is the color a bit different from the one in the set I own?” “Is there really a female Stormtrooper?”
If you’re a collector, you’ve probably run into questions like these. Here’s a single guide that pulls it all together.
Hello there! Figrou, I am — your guide, hmm. Figbase, a reference site it is, where which sets the LEGO minifigures come in, and how to tell the variants apart, across the board mapped out they are. Wherever your curiosity leads, begin there you should.
The Imperial Stormtrooper is the most numerous minifigure in LEGO Star Wars history and the one that has been revised the most. From its 2001 debut to the 2024 arrival of a female Stormtrooper, the sculpt, printing, and even the head color have changed from one generation to the next.
The short version: decide which generation you want first, then go after the sets that include it. That’s the way to buy with the fewest regrets.
- 1 Who Is the Stormtrooper?
- 2 The Stormtrooper Has Several Minifigures: Variant List
- 3 List of LEGO Star Wars Sets That Include the Stormtrooper
- 4 First, Latest, Rarest, Cheapest: Buying a Stormtrooper Minifigure
- 5 Related Minifigures to Collect Alongside the Stormtrooper
- 6 FAQ: Stormtrooper Minifigures
- 7 Sources and References
Who Is the Stormtrooper?
The Stormtrooper is the infantry corps of the Galactic Empire. Ever since their debut in Episode IV “A New Hope,” they’ve been treated throughout the series as the symbol of the Imperial military. They’re positioned as successors to the Clone Troopers born in the Clone Wars, though once they became Stormtroopers, the canon shifted toward a force made up mainly of volunteers.
In LEGO terms, they’ve been released through many angles, from battle packs to large UCS-class sets and helmet collections, and they sit at the center of the “fun of building up your numbers” in a collection.
The Stormtrooper Has Several Minifigures: Variant List
Here we narrow the focus to the Imperial Stormtrooper and organize its variations. Snowtroopers, Sandtroopers, Scout Troopers, and First Order types are treated as separate characters and are outside the scope of this article.
| Variant Name | sw No. | Telltale Point | Main Sets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow head (first generation) | sw0036 | Yellow head, no leg printing, simple torso. 1999-2003 era | #7146, #10123, #7201 |
| Added leg printing | sw0122 | Still a yellow head, with a utility-belt pattern on the legs and hips. 2005 only | #7264 |
| Black head, more realistic helmet interior | sw0188 | Head changed to black to reduce see-through inside the helmet. Around 2007 | #7659 |
| Improved mouth sculpt | sw0366 | More detailed mouth grille, slightly larger eyes | #9492 |
| Leg printing + detailed armor | sw0585 | Leg printing becomes standard; belt and knee-pad detail go modern. 2014-2018 era | #75055, #75159, #75222 |
| Face print, grimace (Endor campaign type) | sw0617 | Added face print introduces a change in expression | #9489 |
| Dual-molded helmet, reddish-brown head | sw1167 | White + light bluish gray dual-mold; reddish-brown head with a grimace | #75311 |
| Imperial Stormtrooper (female) | sw1326 | 2024. Dual-molded helmet, medium brown head, shoulder-belt pattern | #75387 |
Even the same “Stormtrooper,” this different across eras it is. Hmm. Once “which year” your set is from you know, easier to decide it is — whether for a unified look when adding more to aim, or generations deliberately to mix for a historical display.
How to Tell the Generations Apart
To sum up the telltale points in order of priority: (1) whether the helmet is dual-molded (only the back of the head gray) or a single color, (2) whether the legs have printing, and (3) the head color (yellow / black / light nougat / reddish-brown / medium brown). Look at these three axes and you can roughly pin down the generation. Telling apart the fine grimace differences takes a loupe-level check on the secondhand market, but for organizing your collection, the three axes are enough.
List of LEGO Star Wars Sets That Include the Stormtrooper
Here’s a cross-section of the major sets that include a Stormtrooper, released between 2001 and 2024. Cross-reference the year and the variant included as you look for the set that fits your collection plan.
| Set No. | Set Name | Year | Variant Included | Appears In | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #7146 | TIE Fighter | 2001 | sw0036 (yellow head) | Episode IV | One of the debut sets for the Stormtrooper |
| #7201 | Final Duel II | 2002 | sw0036 | Episode IV | – |
| #7139 | Ewok Attack | 2002 | sw0036 | Episode VI | – |
| #10123 | Cloud City | 2003 | sw0036 | Episode V | Rare UCS-class set |
| #7264 | Imperial Inspection | 2005 | sw0122 | Episodes IV-VI | First with leg printing. sw0122 is exclusive to this set |
| #7659 | Imperial Landing Craft | 2007 | sw0188 | Episodes IV-VI | Black-head generation |
| #7667 | Imperial Dropship | 2008 | sw0188 type | Episodes IV-VI | Adjusted-mouthpiece generation |
| #9489 | Endor Rebel Trooper & Imperial Trooper Battle Pack | 2012 | sw0617 | Episode VI | The turning point for standardized face printing |
| #9492 | TIE Fighter | 2012 | sw0366 | Episode IV | – |
| #75055 | Imperial Star Destroyer | 2014 | sw0585 | Episode IV | Modern-spec leg printing |
| #75159 | Death Star | 2016 | sw0585 and others | Episodes IV-VI | UCS. Includes many Imperial types (to be confirmed) |
| #75222 | Betrayal at Cloud City | 2018 | sw0585 type | Episode V | (to be confirmed) |
| #75311 | Imperial Armored Marauder | 2021 | sw1167 | The Mandalorian | Dual-molded-helmet generation |
| #75370 | Stormtrooper Mech | 2023 | One Stormtrooper | General | 138 pieces, launch MSRP $15.99 |
| #75373 | Ambush on Mandalore Battle Pack | 2024 | Imperial Commando x2 (derivative) | The Mandalorian S3 | 109 pieces, 4-figure setup |
| #75387 | Boarding the Tantive IV | 2024 | Two Stormtroopers (male and female sw1326) | Episode IV | Debut of the female Stormtrooper sw1326 |
| #75394 | Imperial Star Destroyer | 2024 | 7 figures total including Stormtroopers | Episode IV | 1,555 pieces, launch MSRP $159.99 |
Where I couldn’t find matching data in a primary source at this time, cells marked “-” are. “(to be confirmed),” confirmed only from a supplementary source it was, this means — so something definitive if you need, LEGO official with multiple trusted sites, cross-check you should.
First, Latest, Rarest, Cheapest: Buying a Stormtrooper Minifigure
First: #7146 TIE Fighter (2001)
The set that included the first LEGO Star Wars Stormtrooper (sw0036). The yellow head is unique to this generation, and the torso is a completely different thing from the current ones. Worth grabbing at least one for a historical display.
Latest: #75394 Imperial Star Destroyer / #75387 Boarding the Tantive IV (2024)
2024 was a banner year for Imperial fans. #75394 is a 1,555-piece, playset-class Star Destroyer with seven minifigures, including modern-spec Stormtroopers. #75387 recreates the boarding of the Tantive IV from the opening of “A New Hope” and includes two Stormtroopers (one of them the female sw1326) plus the 25th-anniversary clone Fives.
Rarest: sw0122 (exclusive to #7264 Imperial Inspection)
The variant that first implemented leg printing, included only in 2005’s #7264 Imperial Inspection. Since it can be obtained from only one set, good-condition pieces tend to hold a higher standalone value even on the secondhand market.
Cheapest (easiest to get): #75370 Stormtrooper Mech (2023)
A small set at 138 pieces with a launch MSRP of $15.99. Since it secures one modern-spec Stormtrooper, it’s just the right entry point for anyone who “just wants one” or “wants to display it with a mech-style stand.”
Related Minifigures to Collect Alongside the Stormtrooper
A minifigure that “really comes into its own when lined up with commanders and superiors,” the Stormtrooper is. Side by side set them up, and your diorama instantly pops it does.
- Darth Vader: the central figure of an Imperial diorama. Essential for Star Destroyer interior scenes and boarding scenes.
- Stormtrooper Commander: a commanding role identified by the orange pad on the shoulder.
- Scout Trooper: a recon-use derivative role. Co-stars in Endor-campaign sets.
- Sandtrooper: a derivative for Tatooine desert duty. Rank is shown by shoulder-pad color.
- Death Star Trooper: dedicated to duty inside the Death Star. Co-stars in sets like #75159.
"How many LEGO Darth Vader minifigures are there, and what's different about them?" "Can you still get the chrome versi[…]
FAQ: Stormtrooper Minifigures
Is there really a female Stormtrooper?
The 2024 #75387 Boarding the Tantive IV included sw1326 “Imperial Stormtrooper – Female” for the first time. With its dual-molded helmet, medium brown head, and shoulder-belt torso, it drew attention as the Stormtrooper’s first official female version.
What’s the difference between sw0036’s yellow-head version and sw0036a?
sw0036 is the early yellow-head version, while sw0036a is the revised version with a light nougat head and a solid-mouth helmet. It’s a derivative that came about as LEGO transitioned its skin-tone depiction from “yellow” to “realistic skin tone (light nougat),” and sw0036a has been the main one in later reissues (re-inclusions) as well.
Are Stormtrooper and Clone Trooper parts interchangeable?
Because the helmet shapes themselves are designed as separate parts, visual interchangeability is limited. Torso and leg parts connect via the standard minifigure spec, but given how the helmets interfere, original combinations aren’t recommended. For collection purposes, it’s safest to keep each with its dedicated helmet.
Is buying in bulk via battle packs recommended?
The Stormtrooper is a minifigure you “build up in numbers to turn into a diorama,” so battle packs are the classic entry point. That said, 2024’s #75373 is for the Mandalore ambush scene, and what it includes is two Imperial Commandos (a derivative that isn’t a direct Stormtrooper line). If you purely want to grow your Stormtrooper count, a large set with the modern spec is the surer bet.
Can discontinued past sets only be bought secondhand?
Since LEGO’s older sets are basically not reissued, after discontinuation the secondhand market (BrickLink, eBay, etc.) is the main way to get them. In particular, #7264 Imperial Inspection (which includes sw0122) and #10123 Cloud City (which includes sw0036) have limited circulation, so prices often reflect their rarity.
Sources and References
- LEGO Official: Star Wars Stormtroopers theme page: lego.com/ja-jp/themes/star-wars/stormtroopers
- LEGO Official #75394 Imperial Star Destroyer: lego.com/en-us/product/imperial-star-destroyer-#75394
- LEGO Official #75387 Boarding the Tantive IV: lego.com/en-us/product/boarding-the-tantive-iv-#75387
- LEGO Official #75373 Ambush on Mandalore Battle Pack: lego.com/en-us/product/ambush-on-mandalore-battle-pack-#75373
- Blocks Magazine “History of the LEGO Star Wars Stormtrooper”: blocksmag.com
- Brickipedia Stormtrooper: brickipedia.fandom.com/wiki/Stormtrooper
- BrickEconomy sw0036: brickeconomy.com/minifig/sw0036/stormtrooper
- BrickEconomy sw1326: brickeconomy.com/minifig/sw1326/imperial-stormtrooper-female